Clearance Officer / Counsel

We are seeking an Experienced Paralegal / Counsel for a national title insurance company based in Bayside, NY.

Position Overview

In this role, you will serve as a key member of the commercial underwriting team, taking ownership of New York and national commercial transactions. You will evaluate high-risk title matters, facilitate underwriting discussions, and negotiate coverage solutions to successfully guide complex deals to closing. This position offers fully remote flexibility or the option to work out of the Bayside office.

Key Responsibilities

• Review transaction documentation—including deeds, security instruments, affidavits, and authority documents—to perform high-level risk assessments and secure underwriter approvals.

• Solve complex legal defects, high-risk title clouds, foreclosure search issues, and survey/zoning requirements to advance transactions toward closing.

• Oversee escrow, closing, and settlement processes in coordination with accounting, ensuring strict adherence to all settlement requirements and escrow instructions.

• Act as the primary contact for transaction parties, workshare partners, and underwriters to negotiate title policy terms, affirmative coverages, endorsements, fees, and premiums.

• Facilitate cooperation among co-insurers, workshare partners, and national underwriters on multi-property and multi-state commercial transactions.

• Maintain complete file documentation with underwriter approvals, update pipeline reports, ensure regulatory compliance, and mentor junior support personnel.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) with NY Bar admission preferred, or a Senior Legal Specialist with extensive commercial property law expertise.

• 5+ years of commercial title underwriting experience, with a proven track record handling multi-state, multi-property projects.

• Deep knowledge of commercial real estate and underwriting concepts, including non-imputation, mezzanine financing, co-insurance, zoning coverage, and workshare regulatory models.

• Hands-on experience with title production software such as Tracker Pro, Microsoft Excel, and pipeline management tools.

• Strong negotiation tactics, high attention to detail, excellent written and verbal communication, and the ability to independently prioritize complex, time-sensitive matters.